Geological Formations
Iztaccihuatl
Volcanic Formations
Citation Formats
General Reference
APA Style
BibTeX
Iztaccihuatl rises on the border of the State of Mexico and Puebla in central Mexico, immediately north of Popocatepetl, already documented in this section, and at about 5,230 meters is the third-highest peak in the country. Its name, from Nahuatl, means "White Woman," a reference to the mountain's long, multi-peaked silhouette, which resembles a sleeping woman when viewed from the surrounding valleys, with individual summits popularly named for parts of that figure such as head, chest and feet. Geologically it is a dormant stratovolcano within the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, built from andesitic and dacitic lava and pyroclastic material erupted over several distinct volcanic phases, the oldest of which is thought to date back over a million years, making it geologically older than its more active neighbor Popocatepetl. Unlike Popocatepetl, Iztaccihuatl has no confirmed eruptions in recorded history and is considered extinct or deeply dormant, though its high elevation still supports small glaciers. This entity documents Iztaccihuatl specifically as a geological formation, a dormant andesitic-dacitic stratovolcano of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt with no eruptions in recorded history.
Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.